News in brief: August 9, 2018

Mobile carrier Vinaphone has announced its plan to shorten its 11-digit mobile phone numbers to ten digits by replacing the three-digit carrier prefixes with new two-digit prefixes from September 15 to 25.

Ho Chi Minh City has launched five taxi stands in the central area of District 1 under a pilot scheme to deal with unregulated taxi pick-ups and drop-offs, which have led to increased traffic congestion in the downtown area in recent years.

The national oil and gas group PVN paid VND61.8 trillion (US$2.66 billion) to the stage budget in the first seven months of 2018, exceeding its seven-month target by 46% and equivalent to 83% of its estimate for the whole year.

News in Brief: August 8, 2018

The World Health Organisation estimates that the social consequences of alcohol use could cost Vietnam approximately 1.3-3.3% of its gross domestic product.

From August 16 to 22, the Hanoi Dermatology Hospital, Ha Dong Eye Hospital and Chuong My district Hospital will offer health check-ups to over 8,500 locals in seven villages of Tan Tien, Nam Phuong Tien and Hoang Van Thu communes, in the Hanoi suburban district that has suffered from serious floods in recent days.

More than 7,000 domestic and foreign runners from 52 countries and territories worldwide will race in the 2018 Manulife Da Nang International Marathon – one of the top marathon destinations in Southeast Asia – on August 12. Runners have registered in the full-marathon 42km, 21km event, a 10km race and a 5km fun run.

Implementing Decree 01/NĐ-CP, dated August 6, 2018, by the Prime Minister on the functions, organisational structure, tasks and powers of the Ministry of Public Security, the ministry has reduced six general departments, nearly 60 department-level units and 300 office-level units.

The 23rd Mekong Delta Regional Exhibition of Fine Arts opened in Ben Tre province on August 7, featuring 200 works by 173 authors in the Mekong Delta region. The event will run until August 14.

On August 7, the Ministries of Industry and Trade and Finance decided to keep petrol prices stable and to slightly increase oil prices, with the highest increase of VND296/litre for diesel 0.05S.

Seventeen fishermen in a fishing vessel that was distressed at sea off the shore of Ba Ria - Vung Tau province were rescued by the Vietnam Maritime search and Rescue Coordination Centre on August 7.

Vietnam’s Sanest Khanh Hoa ranked fourth in the 2018 Asian Men’s Club Volleyball Championship after losing to Pakistan’s WAPDA team in the bronze-medal match in Myanmar on August 6. With this result, Sanest Khanh Hoa made history for Vietnam as the first team from the country to reach the semi-finals of the top-tier championship.

Revenue injected into the State budget totalled VND775 trillion (US$32.2 billion) in the first seven months of this year, equivalent to 58.7% of the yearly estimate and up 13.4% annually, said the Ministry of Finance on August 7.

A conference on Vietnam-Laos electricity purchase was held by the Electricity of Vietnam’s Central Power Corporation (EVNCPC) in Quang Tri province on August 7. After two decades, EVNCPC has sold over 299 million kWh of electricity to Laos, valuing nearly US$21 million.

Low-cost airline Vietjet Air will offer 200,000 flight tickets at low prices from zero VND on routes from Vietnam to Japan, the Republic of Korea and Chinese Taipei, from August 8-10.

Vietnam were knocked out of the qualifying round at the ASEAN Football Federation U16 Championship in Indonesia after drawing with Myanmar 2-2 in the fifth match of Group A. In the previous games, Vietnam crushed the Philippines 6-1, lost to hosts Indonesia 4-2, defeated Timor Leste 4-0 and beat Cambodia 1-0.

News in brief: August 7, 2018

A late goal by Altawail helped Vietnamese futsal team Thai Son Nam secure a 4-3 victory against the UAE’s Al Dhafra, sending the Vietnamese side into the quarter-finals of the AFC Futsal Club Championship where they will face Nagoya Oceans.

The national flag carrier Vietnam Airlines and dairy producer Vinamilk have announced a strategic cooperation programme over the next five years to provide nutrient products for global customers and develop national brands in tandem.

The northern province of Hoa Binh has earmarked over VND350 billion (US$15 million) during the 2016-2018 period, to support local production, including 22 production chain link projects and nearly 500 production models.

News in Brief: August 6, 2018

The National Youth Chess Championship 2018 kicked off in Thua Thien-Hue province on August 6, with the participation of 270 players aged 7-20. The tournament will run until August 15.